---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The NSC staff should not, as it has in…"
description: "\"The NSC staff should not, as it has in the past, duplicate the work of military officers, diplomats or intelligence officers.\" — Robert C. O'Brien"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/robert-c-o-brien-5596_diplomats_the-nsc-staff-should-not-as-it-has-in-th_3154962.jpg"
---

#  The NSC staff should not, as it has in the past, duplicate…

![“The NSC staff should not, as it has in the past, duplicate the work of military officers, diplomats or intelligence officers.” quote by Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/robert-c-o-brien-5596_diplomats_the-nsc-staff-should-not-as-it-has-in-th_3154962.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/robert-c-o-brien-5596_diplomats_the-nsc-staff-should-not-as-it-has-in-th_3154962.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/robert-c-o-brien-5596_diplomats_the-nsc-staff-should-not-as-it-has-in-th_3154962.jpg)

> “The NSC staff should not, as it has in the past, duplicate the work of military officers, diplomats or intelligence officers.”

[Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The Council should avoid repeating tasks already handled by military, diplomatic, or intelligence personnel.

**In simple terms:** Don’t duplicate work already done by experts.

Key Takeaway

Focus on unique contributions.

Themes

efficiency government coordination

Mood

pragmatic analytical

Type

advisory policy

When to use this quote

- policy drafting
- interagency meetings
- crisis response
- strategic planning

Key Concepts

bureaucracy role clarity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can overlap be identified early?
- What mechanisms ensure proper task allocation?

A Different Perspective

May limit flexibility if roles are too rigid.

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